Dash lamp



Feb. 2 1926. 6 v C. D. RYDER DASH LAMP Filed June 12, 1924 Patented Feb.2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ID. RYDER, OF COVING-TON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE CINCINNATIVIC- TOR COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DASH LAMP.

Application filed June 12, 1924. Serial No. 719,687.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. RYDER, a citizen of the United States,and residing at Covington, in the county of Kenton and State ofKentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dash Lamps, ofwhich the following specification is a full disclosure.

My invention relates to lamps and is particularly directed to dash lampsfor automobiles. Many makes of motor car, including the Ford are notequipped with dash lamps and it is often desirable for the user to havethis feature.

Therefore, one object of my invention is to provide a dash lamp forautomobiles which can be quickly and easily installed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dash lamp for automobileswhich will have a switch involving no extra wiring or multiplication ofparts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dash lamp for automobileswith an electric connection suitable to connect the lamp, mounted on thefront of the dash, with a terminal on the back of said dash.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a dash lamp forautomobiles with a hood which will be securely attached thereto and atthe same time will be simple in structure and easily removed.

Other objects and certain advantages will appear from the description ofthe drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view of the lamp mounted on the instrument board of anautomobile.

Figure 7 is a rear view of the instrument board showing the electricalconnection and the fastening means for the lamp.

I contemplate mounting a dash lamp on the instrument board of theautomobile by means of clips and a yieldable finger, thereby eliminatingall extra nuts, bolts or screws. The switch is of rotary type mounted inthe shank of the lamp and the circuit control is accomplished by simplyturning the lamp hood. The wiring comprises a single fiat electricalconnection attached at one end to the terminal of the lamp, passingbetween the instrument board and the dash itself, and connected at theother end to one of the instruments, preferably the ampere meter. Thecircuit is completed through the metal of the dash.

More specifically the lamp comprises a base portion 1 adapted to engagethe instrument board or plate 2. Two hook-shaped clips 3 extend fromthis base portion 1 and when the lamp is mounted pass around the edge ofand behind the instrument board 2. The lamp is further held in serviceposition by a yieldable finger 4L, opposed to said clips and preferablybetween them, which finger extends outwardly from the base portion andengages the dash board 5, thereby securely seating the base 1 on theinstrument board 2. This finger l is provided on its side adjacent tothe instrument board 5 with a depression 6 adapted to provide someclearance for the connecting member 7. This construction also reinforcesthe yieldable finger 4:. The connecting member 7 comprises a flat stripof metal preferably permanently secured as by soldering, to one lampterminal 8, in this case of hollow structure. The opposite end of saidconnecting member 7 is provided with an eye terminal 9, which is securedto an appropriate terminal 10 of one of the dash instruments, such asthe amperemeter.

This connecting member 7 is insulated by means of a strip of adhesivetape 11 longitudinally lapped about it. The other lamp terminal 12, alsohollow, is connected with the base member 1 by means of a short metallicstrip 13 preferably soldered at both ends. Thus the circuit is madethrough the fiat connection and the metal of the dash.

Inside of the base member 1 and secured thereto by means such as solder,is a tubular member 14 and in this tubular member is a core 15 ofinsulating material. This core 15 supports the two hollow terminals 8and 12 in which are two yieldable contact 1119111 bers 16 pressedoutwardly by springs 17 also located in said hollow terminals 8 and 12.The contact members 16 are respectively adapted to engage the terminals18 of an incandescent electric bulb i9. Mounted on this tubular member 11 just above the base is a socket member 20 secured thereto by means of.a pin 21- extending into a circumferential slot 22 in the tubular member14. Thus the socket member 20 can be rotated upon the tubular member 1aand base 1- but is held thereto axially. This slot and pin constructionalso serves to limit the degree of this rotation. The socket member isinteriorlyprovided with a lamp socket 23 preferably soldered therein,said lamp socket having a bayonet slot 21 adapted to engage the pins 25of the incandescent bulb 19. When the socket member and bulb arerotated, first one way then the other, the electric circuit flowingthrough the lamp 1s alternately made and broken.

The socket member has a flange 26 at its outer end and over thisflange'fits a hood 27. This hood 2'? is cylindrical in form and isprovided with .a light aperture 28 in the cvlindrical wall. This hood 27is also provided with the flange 29 on the end which engages the flange26 of the socket member and this flange29 isprovided with fluting 30 so.that it maybe easily expanded as 1t 1s forced over the flange of thesocket member 26 thereby securing a tight lit between these parts. Onthe flange of the socket member 26 is a small obtrusion 31 formed bybending the metal, adapted'to, engage and fit into one of these flutes30 to prevent the hood from being rotated independently of the socketmember.

Thus, ,I provide a small compact dash lamp which can'be mounted byanyone by, simply unfastening the instrument board, hanging the lamp onthe edge of the lnstrument board by means of the clips, attaching theconnecting member to the proper amperemeter terminal and replacing theinstrument board. The switching is accomplished by simply turning thehood and the fluted construction serves to afford a good grippingsurface. The connecting member being flat will pass between theinstrument board and the dash board without necessitating any drillingor bending of these mem bers.

lVhilethis lamp may be put oniniany makes of automobile, it isparticularly de signed and adapted for use on Ford. automobiles.

Having described my invention, I claim:

-1. In a device of the class described, a base, two hook-shaped clipsextending from said base, a yieldable finger between said hook-shapedclips extending outwardly from said base, a tubular member secured insaid base, a circumferential slot in said tubular tated into alignmentwith the same, a hood adapted to be secured to the flange of the socketmember, said hood having itself a flange of fluted construction, a flatinsulated electric connection securedto one of said terminals, saidother terminal being secured to said base. I

2. In a device of the class described, a base, two hook-shaped clipsextending from said base, a yieldable finger extending outwardly fromsaid base, a tubular member secured in said base, a circumferential slotin said tubular member, a socket member rotativ'ely mounted on said baseand tubular member, a pin extending through saidsocket member into saidcircumferential slot, terminals provided with yieldable electric-comtacts inside of said tubular member, an in candescent electric lightbulb mounted in said socket member having terminals adapted to engagesaid contacts in the tubular member and complete an electric circuitwhen rotated into alignment with the same, a flat insulated electricconnectionsecured to one of said terminals, said other terminal beingelectrically connected to the base,

3. In a devicev of the class described, a base, two hook-shapedclipsextending from said-base, a yieldable finger eXtend-ingoutwar'dlyfrom said base, a tubular member secured in said base, a circumferentialslot in said tubular member, a socket member rotatively mounted on saidbase and tubular member, a pin extending through said socket member intosaid circumferential slot, yieldable electric contacts inside of saidtubular member, an incandescent electric. light bulb mounted in saidsocket member having terminals adapted to engage said contacts in thetubular member when rotated into alignment with the same and to completean electric circuit, and a. hoodhaving awflange of fluted construction,said flange adapted to engage the socket member and secure the hoodthereto.

4. In a device. of the class described, a

base, two hook-shaped clips extending fromsaid base, a yieldable lingerextending outwardly from said base, a tubular member secured in saidbase, a circumferential slot in said tubular member, a socket memberrotatively mounted on said base and. tubular member but secured theretoaxially, spring pressed electric contacts inside of saidtubular member,an incandescent electric light bulb mounted in said socket member havingterminals adapted to engage said contacts in the tubular member andcomplete an electric circuit When rotated into alignment with the same,said socket member provided with a flange on its outer end, and a hoodadapted to be secured to this flange,

said hood having itself a flange of fluted construction, said flangecooperable With the flange of the socket member for securing 0 the hoodto the socket member. 7

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe CHARLES D. RYDER.

